Preview of a busy day ahead at Callaghan Park Saturday 7 December.

Callaghan Park Racetrack will be buzzing with excitement as Christmas approaches with many businesses, families and friends celebrating the start of festive season tomorrow.

There’s a five-race TAB program to be decided, with the Rockhampton Jockey Club pre-bookings of 550 covers across three dining areas indicating that there will be plenty of people on track to enjoy the festivities.

Race one will commence at 12.57 pm.

Emerald-based trainer Glenda Bell who won last week’s Dick Sullivan Memorial Handicap with 4YO mare Shy Rebel will look for some extra Christmas cheer with another nicely bred and performed 4YO. She will present her gelding Gold Academy in the Datamars Livestock BM62 Handicap (1050m).

Gold Academy (Zoustar- Yattarna) commenced its career in Sydney before being transferred to Brisbane and had a few starts before finding its niche in Central Queensland.

Since winning a Maiden in Mackay in July, Gold Academy has won twice more there and is a last start Benchmark 60 Handicap winner on his home track at Emerald. Warwick Satherley has ridden Gold Academy at each of its four victories and he reunites with the chestnut at Callaghan Park. Each of Gold Academy’s wins have been over distances ranging from 1000m to 1100m so the 1050m is going to be right up his alley. The only thing new to him will be the longer 600m Callaghan Park straight. “This race is a harder test for him,” Bell said. “It’s a better race again then what he has had so I will find out whether I’ve got a pretty fair horse or a good bush horse.”

Gold Academy was a $380,000 yearling purchase by Tasman Bloodstock at the Inglis Easter Sales in 2022 and his original owner Ron Wanless would have had high hopes for the galloper when he was beaten just three lengths by Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Ozzmosis in a Rosehill trial 14 months ago.

Gold Academy was with trainers Greg Ryan and Kelly Schweida before Bell and her racing partners, son Guy, Nick Trimble and Tony Fenlon purchased the galloper. Bell said her stable gets a lot of good horses on the advice of trainer David Vandyke. Last week’s trophy winner Shy Rebel came from the Vandyke stable. “He is a good friend, and he steers the right horses my way,” Bell said.

Jackson Murphy will ride the in-form 5YO mare Andiron for local trainer Tom Smith. Andiron shoots for four straight wins after two wins in Mackay’s and a last star Rockhampton BM 58 victory over 1100m.

Apprentice Jockey Nikki Olzard will claim 3kg on topweight Charlie Sphene. Trained by Paul Butterworth at Eagle Farm, Charlie Sphene has won seven races with his most recent win at Beaudesert in May 2023. He won a trial at Doomben on 24 September with his best of three races since, a fourth at Toowoomba over 1050m.

RJC CEO, David Aldred.